Method of using ultra-violet rays to aid the process of combustion in combustion motors, etc.



Sept. 10, 1929. F. WECKERLE METHOD OF USING ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS TO AID THEPROCESS.

OF COMBUSTION IN COMBUSTION MOTORS, ETC Filed May 29, 1925 P F KINVENTOR FEED/NA NO WEC 5/?4 1:

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND WECKERLE, OF MUNICH, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO STUD'IENGESELL-SCI-LAF'I FUER WIRTSCHAFT U. INDUSTRIE, M. B. 1-1., OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

METHOD OF USING ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS TO AID THE PROCESS OF COMBUSTION INCOMBUSTION MOTORS, ETC.

Application filed May 29, 1926, Serial N'o. 112,732, and in Germany June6, 1925.

Although ultra violet rays have been known for a long time no definiteresults have been found up to the present time regarding their'mode ofacting in processes of 5 combustion. In creating ultra violet rays ozoneis formed abundantly, that is in relation to the spent energy. Forinstance these processes and results can be used effectivelyincombustion motors. Another well known fact is that in ultra violet lightthe electric luminous arc becomes much larger, because the influence ofultra violet rays magnifies the conducting power of the air throughionization. This process is also employed here, for instance in a wellknown type of combustion motor.

In the drawing illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a partial section through a com-' plug A is effectivelyclosed by a foil 0,

This foil C is made of material which is penetrable by ultra violet raysand so admits said rays into the plug-body A. The electrodes 0" and 0are placed in the usual way, i. e. they face each other directly. Thereal apparatus to generate ultra violet rays B is directly over the diskC and is placed in a tube D. I

i .As the ultra violet rays generate ozone, it is projected into the airintake manifold or tube D and toward the zone of the igniter or plug A.Tube D is connected with the suction pipe of the carburetor so that themotor draws a definite quantity of ozone into the combustible mixturewith every stroke. The amount of generated ozone can of course beregulated by throttling i. e. by controlling the amount of electricalcurrent utilized in producing the same, the ozone generated being inproportion to the energy expended. This accelerates the process ofcombustion, considerably increases the number of revolutions of themotor. renders the combustion more perfect and thereby burns the fuelmost efiiciently. Furthermm'e the points of the electrodes 0 and can bespaced apart a greater distance without using more energy and in thismanner the danger of excessive clogging of the spark plugs is reduced toa minimum.

While the normal distance between the points of the electrodes is about0,3 mm., they can now be spaced apart up (.03 mm. or more.

The same procedure, which has been mentioned here in regard tocombustion motors, can also be employed in other methods of combustion.The ultra-violet rays can be projected into the combustion chamber bythe same way by employing a reflecting mirror, causing the generatedozone in st-atu nascendi'to combine with the combustion air. There isonly this difference, that in the combustion motor the process takesplace under pressure and is caused in regular periods by electricitywhereas in combustion the process is continuous.

I claim:

1. The method of utilizing ultra-violet rays to aid the process ofcombustion, which consists in projecting ultraviolet rays into thecombustion zone of an igniter, and simul- 2. In a combustion motor, acombustion taneously mixing the ozone generated by said N y rays withthe combustion a r.

chamber, an air intake manifold leading thereto, an ignition deviceconnected to said chamber and manifold, and an ultra violet raygenerator within said manifold for projecting the rays therefrom throughsaid manifold and into the zone of said ignition device.

3. In a combustion motor, a combustion chamber, an air intake manifoldleading thereto, an ignition device connected to said chamber andnianifold, an ultra-violet ray generator within said manifold forprojecting the rays therefrom through said manifold and into the zone ofsaid ignition device, and a closure device penetrable by said raysinterposed between said manifold and said ignition device.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FERDINAND W'EGKERLE.

